Graduate students who are in programs with a required research and thesis/major research paper component; or coursework-only programs (including those with internship or practicum requirements) may request an exemption from tuition for up to two sessions if their academic program has been disrupted due to COVID-19. Students will still be charged non-tuition ancillary, incidental fees and system access fees that are associated with the registration session.
Note: The SGS Tuition Fee Exemption will continue to be offered to eligible students in 2022-23 and in future years. It is recommended that students apply for the exemption immediately after exiting the funded cohort in order to pair it with a PCA, which is available in the first two sessions of registration immediately after exiting the funded cohort.
Eligibility: Students in Research and Thesis or Research Paper Programs
To be eligible for a Tuition Fee Exemption, the following SGS criteria must be met:
- The student was registered during or before the winter 2020 session and was making good progress with the thesis/dissertation prior to March 2020 and data collection or access to necessary sources has been significantly impeded due to pandemic-related impacts. This disruption will have been documented using the COVID-19 mentoring record distributed in 2020.
- Additional work is needed before the thesis/dissertation can be defended or the major research paper is completed.
- The revised research plan will require an additional session of registration.
- The student will be outside the funded cohort and will receive little or no other funding towards tuition charged in the session for which they are applying for an exemption.
- The supervisor agrees that conditions (1) through (4) have been met.
- The Graduate Chair or Coordinator of the student’s home graduate unit agrees that conditions (1) through (4) have been met and provides departmental approval.
Eligibility: Students in Coursework Programs, Including those with Internships & Practicums
To be eligible for a Tuition Fee Exemption, the following SGS criteria must be met:
- The student was registered during or before the winter 2020 session and was making good progress prior to March 2020 and academic activities or access to necessary resources has been significantly impeded due to pandemic-related impacts. This disruption will have been documented by the graduate unit.
- Completion of outstanding academic activities will require additional time beyond the program length of their degree program.
- The Graduate Chair or Coordinator of the student’s home graduate unit agrees that conditions (1) and (2) have been met and provides departmental approval.
Students should contact their graduate unit for help with questions about eligibility.
Requesting a Tuition Fee Exemption
Registration with tuition exemption is available for students who meet the criteria identified above. Students should submit their request in the academic session for which they are seeking tuition fee exemption. Applications must be received by the SGS Sessional Deadlines:
- Fall 2022: September 16, 2022
- Winter 2023: January 13, 2023
- Summer 2023: May 6, 2023
Students will initiate a request to register with a fee exemption by completing the SGS Register with Tuition Fee Exemption on Basis of Progress Delays due to COVID-19 form and submitting it to their graduate unit.
For students in research stream programs or professional programs with a major research component, completion of the form requires approvals from the supervisor and the graduate chair or coordinator of the home graduate unit. For students in professional programs, completion of the form requires approvals from the program director and graduate chair/coordinator of the home graduate unit.
The student will be charged mandatory non-tuition fees, such as incidental, ancillary, and system access fees. The student may apply for an A&S COVID-19 Program Completion Award to assist with these costs.